Gas bottle locker security

quickweh

quickweh

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Just found that my gas bottle locker had been broken into whilst on my drive and a Safefill bottle (full) been stolen. The locker is a continental style top hinge door unit without an alarm and has rotating locks. It was simply levered open from the side.
Any ideas on how to secure the bottles would be much apreciated.
Thanks
 
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quickweh sad to hear -> we were advised on installation of our Growler they could increase the coverage to cover the gas locker for a small fee on top of the system (it was a very small fee) and they advised it for the reason of stolen gas bottles being as likely as a theft from the utility locker.. So I'd say can you extend your alarm system if any to the locker ? Thats probably best detterant.

Other than that I cant see any way of securing them given ratchet strap as most use to hold bottles is quite easly cutable with a serated knife. Maybe metal chain? But again bolt cutters are common scumbag tools.

Alternatively deter them with a flashing LED on the locker and a few alrmed stickers.. won't stop them but may deter.
 
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quickweh

Mike and Pauline,

Sorry to read your OP.

How about one of these?
1698348307792.png

Would it be suitable?
Shutting the gate and all that but from experience I know that in 6 weeks time (after you have replaced the bottle) 'Chummy' might be back to repeat the operation.
 
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Emmit said:
quickweh

Mike and Pauline,

Sorry to read your OP.

How about one of these?
View attachment 827950
Would it be suitable?
Shutting the gate and all that but from experience I know that in 6 weeks time (after you have replaced the bottle) 'Chummy' might be back to repeat the operation.
Click to expand...
Thanks Derek, what is it? A link perhaps?

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quickweh said:
Thanks Derek, what is it? A link perhaps?
Click to expand...
It's a Fiamma door lock. (put that into Ebay then search for the cheapest) It is fitted next to the door or locker to be protected and the 'arm' swivels through 180 degs. To cover the door or locker.

And, if you put "FIAMMA SECURITY SAFE DOOR MAGNUM FRAME Lock"
You will get an item that has a longer 'arm'.
 
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Oh that's bad Mike.l. They would have had to come prepared to undo the connections or did they just cut through the hoses? On the security side can you connect a loop lead through the bottles in future, connected to your alarm.
 
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I would double up, a lock on the door plus a hasp bolted through the wall and a decent cable and lock to secure the bottles. Problem with scumbags breaking in to steal a gas bottle once, they might come back knowing you probably replaced it with a new one
 
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Mike, what alarm do you have? If you have the Vanbitz alarm have a look at maybe using the bike alarm loop.
 
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Rape alarm fitted from the back of the bottle to something reasonably solid in the locker, cheap and cheerful but pretty loud.
As the bottle is a safe fill I assume the OP isn't taking the bottle in and out.
To be honest if they've levered the locker door open once they probably would do it again even with an extra lock just causing more damage.

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Sorry to hear this Mike.
You could fit something basic like a shed alarm and maybe a security chain through the bottles if you could find something to attach it to.
 
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Emmit said:
quickweh

Mike and Pauline,

Sorry to read your OP.

How about one of these?
View attachment 827950
Would it be suitable?
Shutting the gate and all that but from experience I know that in 6 weeks time (after you have replaced the bottle) 'Chummy' might be back to repeat the operation.
Click to expand...
I have these (2, one each side) on my Hymer garage door, but they did need a small amount of modification, I've still got one left
 
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Should add the thing vanbitz done to ours did not involve the bike/accessory loop, it was a full additional door sensor like the one on the main door and normal garage entry so if the locker was opened in any way it would trigger the full alarm response. (which also texts us/alerts us on phones if you were not familiar with the vanbitz alarm).

I'd be loathe to put a fiamma door lock on it, as they've already proven they can lever a door open, and those fiammas won't be fitted to strong parts of the van in all likelihood (the exterior on most vans is weak by the gas locker) so you'd probably need to also put some strong wood behind the fixing to spread the load. I think you may end up with more damage than last time if they come back though as they are not undefeatable by theieves they are just another form of detterant. Therefore I would suggest deterrance first via alarm, obvious monitoring etc, and maybe a steel chain on the bottles thruogh the floor of the van via the gas vents.. Point a camera at the locker too if you can given no-one has suggested that. It's why I suggested a cheap flashing led as a potential dettrance as they will see you've changed things since last time. Hell even a alarmed sticker on door even if untrue may help in deterring a second occasion. Not all security has to be actually present these days, as most theives don't want to setoff an alarm and wake the neighbours, so the suggestion of one may do the trick - and you did mention price was a consideration.
 
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And for those of us with the telltale sign of a gas fill point adjacent, it's a tell tale sign that theres at least one expensive refillable cylinder inside the locker......

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A poacher mine rigged to a string on the door would work wonders. Scrote opens door without unhooking the string and boom, a blank shotgun shell blasts them.
 
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TheBig1 said:
A poacher mine rigged to a string on the door would work wonders. Scrote opens door without unhooking the string and boom, a blank shotgun shell blasts them.
Click to expand...
If it wasn't a gas locker I'd agree -> that or electrocution of the scrotes, but given both are quite dangerous if you have a gas leak, deterrance is likely the best option. I'd prefer to lose a gas bottle to losing a motorhome to a gas explosion.
 
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Would there be an issue with emergency services not having easy access to the bottled gas?
American RV (not removable bottles I know) but they have locks on all my lockers except the gas one for cooker/heating.

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If you already have an alarm system, with door connectors, then it's a fairly simple operation to add a sensor to every locker door.
You are going to have to pay to get the locker door repaired and a new lock in any case, so you may as well do it properly.

I's recommend hard wired connections rather than the cheaper and easier to fit wireless connectors.
My experience is motorhomes and wireless for critical items is an incompatible mix.

If you have a VanBitz system then get them to upgrade it, I seem to remember the sensors are only about £10 each, (but I'll bet 2hrs of labour not included!). We have a deck chairs/bike loop and sensor on every locker door, including the cassette!
 
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Jev88 said:
Would there be an issue with emergency services not having easy access to the bottled gas?
American RV (not removable bottles I know) but they have locks on all my lockers except the gas one for cooker/heating.
Click to expand...
In UK/EU they are typically locked lockers as default, and in event of anything needing emergency services access I suspect the door would have already been blown off/ removed with extreme prejudice with a crowbar. Ours has 2 locks both using same key as seems common on most EU motorhomes. They are not particularly strong however and all the fire services here carry good axes and crowbars as elsewhere.
 
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Excellent thread. The security of the gas bottles is something I've never given a second thought too, tend to worry more about someone breaking in or stealing the vehicle.

Some very good suggestions mentioned above for stalling the little so and so's, and not that expensive either, one of which I shall be fitting in the very near future. Thanks OP
 
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